FAQ — Crystal Springs Trees

Question 1

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

$79 per tree, plus a delivery fee and applicable taxes. This is our 2026 season pricing.

Question 2

What is included in the price?

Accepted Answer

Every tree we plant includes: a 4–6 foot White Spruce, professional installation by our crew, transplant fertilizer injected directly into the rootball, support stakes, and a ring of mulch at the base. Delivery is billed separately based on your location.

Question 3

How big are the trees?

Accepted Answer

Our trees are 4 to 6 feet tall at harvest. This size gives you immediate visual impact while still being small enough to transplant successfully and establish quickly.

Question 4

What kind of trees do you plant?

Accepted Answer

We specialize exclusively in White Spruce. This native species is ideally suited to the Western Canadian climate and has proven to be the most robust choice for successful transplanting.

Question 5

Is there a minimum order?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our minimum order is 30 trees. There is no upper limit — we regularly manage projects ranging from 30 trees to over 500.

Question 6

Do you service my area?

Accepted Answer

We provide services throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Let us know where you are located and we will confirm.

Question 7

What are the delivery costs?

Accepted Answer

Delivery fees vary by location and typically range from $150 to $400.

Question 8

When do you plant?

Accepted Answer

Our planting seasons are May through June, and late September through October. Because our schedule depends heavily on weather and ground conditions, dates may change on short notice to give your trees the best possible start.

Question 9

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

As early as you can. We plant in two short windows each year — May to June, and late September to October — and our capacity in each is limited. Spring dates are typically spoken for by mid-April; fall dates by mid-August. Larger orders need more lead time, and your utility locate can take several business days on its own, so booking well ahead of your preferred window is the surest way to get the date you want.

Question 10

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash, cheque, or e-transfer. Payment is due in full on completion of planting and we will issue your invoice on site the same day. If you plan to pay by e-transfer, please check your daily and weekly sending limits ahead of time — most banks cap transfers well below the value of a typical order, and larger limits can take a day or two to arrange with your institution.

Question 11

How many trees do I need for my space?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the size of your planting area and the density you want. As a general guide: single row — space trees 8 to 10 feet apart; double row — space trees 14 feet apart. Keep in mind that White Spruce is a large tree at maturity. Plan your rows well back from fence lines, buildings, driveways, and overhead lines, and keep trees entirely clear of septic fields and buried services. Send us your dimensions and we will help you work out a layout and a count.

Question 12

What do I need to do before your crew arrives?

Accepted Answer

Four things. The first two are safety requirements and we cannot plant without them. (1) Book a utility locate — contact Utility Safety Partners (Click Before You Dig) in Alberta, or Sask 1st Call in Saskatchewan, and have underground utility lines marked before we arrive. Locates are free but can take several business days, so book early. (2) Mark your own private lines — utility locate services only mark utility-owned infrastructure up to the meter. You are responsible for marking septic tanks and fields, cisterns and water lines, irrigation and sprinkler lines, gas lines running past the meter, buried power to shops or outbuildings, and invisible pet fencing. (3) Mow the planting area — grass must be cut to 3 inches or shorter before we arrive. (4) Clear the site and access route — the planting area and all access paths must be free of vehicles, equipment, materials, and debris.

Question 13

Will you need access to my yard?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We need unrestricted access to the planting site and to every path leading to it, with a minimum clear width of 10 feet to accommodate our truck. Please make sure gates are unlocked and dogs are secured.

Question 14

Will your truck damage my lawn?

Accepted Answer

We take care, but we are operating a loaded one-tonne truck across your property. On soft or recently wet ground, some tire marks or rutting is possible, particularly in the access route and turnaround areas. If ground conditions are poor enough that we think damage is likely, we will talk to you about postponing rather than pushing ahead.

Question 15

Do I need to be home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An adult must be present when our crew arrives to confirm planting locations and point out underground hazards such as septic fields and private lines. We cannot proceed if nobody is home. Once the work has started and locations are confirmed, you are free to leave.

Question 16

How long does planting take?

Accepted Answer

A 50-tree job usually takes about half a day. Larger projects may run over two or more days.

Question 17

What happens if it rains?

Accepted Answer

Light rain — roughly 2 mm or less over the course of the day — does not usually interrupt our schedule. If rain is heavy or the ground is saturated, we will postpone to protect your property and to avoid planting into waterlogged soil. We will contact you as early as we can.

Question 18

Can I reschedule?

Accepted Answer

We will make every effort to accommodate you. Our seasonal window is short and heavily booked, so we cannot guarantee an alternative date, but the earlier you contact us the better the chances of finding one.

Question 19

How often and how much should I water?

Accepted Answer

Year 1: 2 to 3 gallons per tree, twice a week, until the ground freezes in late October. Year 2: 1 gallon per tree, twice a week, until freeze-up. Year 3: 1 gallon per tree, once a week, until freeze-up. Increase watering during extended heat, wind, or drought. Use surface water wherever possible — many well water sources on the prairies carry high sodium levels, which is genuinely damaging to White Spruce during establishment. Dugout, rain, or hauled water is a better choice.

Question 20

The needles on my new trees are turning yellow or brown. Is the tree dying?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Some yellowing and shedding of older, interior needles in the first couple of months after planting is a normal transplant response, and trees generally recover. The reassuring sign to look for is new bud growth at the branch tips. Genuine moisture stress looks different: needles fade to a dull grey-green or take on a purplish tint, tips dry out and turn crispy brown, the canopy thins noticeably, and growth stalls from the top down. If you are seeing that pattern, increase watering and check your water source.

Question 21

Do I need to fertilize?

Accepted Answer

Not at first. We inject a specialized transplant fertilizer directly into the rootball at planting, which carries the tree through establishment. Once your trees are established, a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer can be applied in spring. Never fertilize in summer or fall — it stimulates soft growth that will not survive the first hard frost.

Question 22

What maintenance do the trees need?

Accepted Answer

Keep the mulch ring intact and grass back from the trunk — damage from mowers and string trimmers is a leading cause of tree loss. Leave stakes in place for at least one full growing season, then remove them so they do not restrict trunk growth. White Spruce needs very little pruning — remove only dead or diseased branches, and avoid pruning in the first year. If wildlife pressure is high on your property, plan on protection for young trees.

Question 23

Is there a warranty on the trees?

Accepted Answer

We stand behind our stock and our workmanship. Every tree we deliver is healthy and correctly sized, and every tree is properly installed before we leave your property. If you have any concern about the condition of the trees or the quality of the installation, raise it with us at the time of planting or as soon as possible afterwards and we will make it right. We do not warrant survival after installation — once a tree is in the ground, whether it thrives depends on watering, water quality, weather, wildlife, and mechanical damage, none of which are within our control.

Question 24

What are typical survival rates for transplanted trees?

Accepted Answer

Published figures for transplanted conifers put baseline survival at roughly 60% to 70%, rising to 85% to 95% where trees receive consistent watering, good quality water, and protection from wildlife and mechanical damage. In our experience, losses are almost always traceable to drought stress, high-sodium water, or physical damage rather than to the trees themselves.

Question 25

What happens if a tree does not survive?

Accepted Answer

Removal of a tree that does not survive is the property owner's responsibility. Replacement trees can be ordered through our normal process at current pricing, subject to our minimum order. If you are losing trees, get in touch — we would rather help you diagnose the cause than sell you replacements that meet the same fate.

Question 26

How do I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

Call us at 403.820.0961 or email info@crystalspringstrees.ca with your location, the number of trees you are considering, and a rough description of the planting area. We will confirm service availability, delivery cost, and the next available date in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you book

Preparing your site

On planting day

After planting

Our policies

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